Cannoli Pie

Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by Chenée Lewis

This easy cannoli pie is a no bake dessert that everyone loves! An incredible cannoli pie with ricotta and cream cheese, and a spiced cannoli pie crust. If you like this incredible cannoli pie, try some other no-bake treats: No Bake Oreo Cheesecake, Pumpkin Mousse Pie, and Peach Sorbet!

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Easy Cannoli Pie

A couple years back, I made an attempt to make cannoli, which are Sicilian pastries consisting of a deep-fried crispy dough filled with a lightly sweet creamy ricotta filling. I shared it with some friends and while their reactions were as generous as possible ("um... the filling is pretty good?"), I knew I had work to do. I'm still working on perfecting my cannoli, but in the meantime I'm so excited to share this no-bake cannoli pie with you! It's got the classic flavors and textures of cannoli, but SO much easier to master!

It can be a pie or a tart depending on what type of pan you use, but either way this cannoli pie dessert is incredibly easy to make, and packed with amazing flavor. It's got a buttery graham cracker crust with a hint of cocoa; a creamy ricotta-based filling with chopped dark chocolate, orange zest, and vanilla; and it's topped with roasted pistachios and powdered sugar. The flavors are amazing together, and it's SO easy to make! It's a no-bake recipe, so you'll just need to whip it up and let it set in the fridge. Simple as that!

What is Cannoli Filling Made of?

Traditionally, cannoli filling is made of sweetened ricotta cheese, that is often flavored with orange peel, chocolate, or cinnamon. For this cannoli pie recipe, we're channeling those flavors with ricotta cheese, chopped dark chocolate, and orange zest. We're also adding just a bit of cream cheese to help solidify the texture of the no-bake filling.

Does cannoli taste good?

Yes! Cannoli is one of my favorite treats whenever I visit an Italian bakery! The cool, creamy filling is so refreshing and delicious, and I love the hints of orange and spice. Typical cannoli shells are deep-fried pastry, but this twist, using a graham cracker crust, is such a great complement to the filling! If you haven't had cannoli before, you should! And this pie is a great introduction to those flavors.

Cannoli Cheesecake Pie Ingredients

For the cocoa graham cracker crust, you'll need:

• graham cracker crumbs - you can crush whole graham crackers in a food processor, in a plastic bag using a rolling pin, or you can do what I did and buy store-bought graham cracker crumbs!
• cinnamon - adds a bit of warmth to the crust and works so well with the graham cracker and cocoa flavors in your cannoli pie crust!
• unsweetened cocoa powder - many cannoli shell recipes call for a bit of cocoa powder, so I was hoping to recreate some of that flavor with the graham cracker crust of this cannoli pie!
• sugar - makes the crust nice and sweet
• salted butter - brings out all the flavors, and helps to bring the crust together.

For your ricotta filling, you'll need:

• full-fat ricotta cheese - it should be strained to eliminate some of the moisture -- there are a few ways to strain ricotta cheese, but my shortcut method is below! In short, I just wrap it in paper towels a few times to absorb any extra liquid.
• full-fat cream cheese - helps to give the filling a smooth, creamy texture, and since this is a no-bake recipe, the cream cheese helps it solidify a bit better as it chills.
• powdered sugar - it should be sifted, or better yet, measured out with a food scale (we're using 115g).
• chopped dark chocolate - you can use either semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. I used this bittersweet baking bar.
• orange zest - the hint of orange flavor is what takes this cannoli pie over the edge! It works so well with the dark chocolate and brightens up the ricotta filling.
• chopped roasted pistachios and powdered sugar - to top our pie, we're chopping up some pistachios, which are a traditional topping for cannoli. A dusting of powdered sugar also adds a great finishing touch.

Equipment

You can definitely make this in a pie pan, but I love to use a tart pan (making it a cannoli tart! I love making desserts in a tart pan! It gives the crust such a nice, neat fluted look, plus the removable bottom makes them so much easier to assemble, slice, and serve! But it works just as well in a glass or metal pie pan of your choice -- it's no-bake, so any pan you like should work!

Step by Step

This no-bake cannoli pie is so simple! You can have it assembled in just a few minutes and then the hardest part is waiting for it to set up in the fridge! It's perfect for warm days or any day when you don't want to turn on the oven.

1. First, you'll make your graham cracker crust, combining the crust ingredients in a bowl and then pressing the mixture into your pie pan. It'll chill while you make your filling.
2. Then, you'll beat your ricotta and cream cheese together, mix in your powdered sugar, and fold in your chocolate and orange zest. Spread all that in your chilled crust, and then chill the whole thing for a few hours!
3. Before you serve your tart, sprinkle it with pistachios and dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy!!

Tips and F.A.Q.

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